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(No Model) G. A. FREEMAN. Box.

No. 242,123. Patented May 31, 1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. FREEMAN, OF NEW YORK, n. Y., AssIGNoR To lBERNARD HEOHT,

oF sAME PLAGE.

BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,123, dated May 31, 1881.

Application filed March 22, 1881.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes. fully described and represented in the following specication and the accompanying dra wings, forming a part vof the same.

In said drawings, Figure lis a front elevation of my improvement, shown closed. Fig.

2 is a perspective view ot' the same, showing the box open for theinspection of its contents, and having one of its compartments partially removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional elevation of the closed box, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line .fr a: of Fig. 3, while Figs. 5 and 6 show, respectively, a sectional elevation and plan ot' one end ot' the box open and a modification of the same in cross-section; and Fig. 7 shows a modified form ot' an end piece.

As heretofore constructed, boxes intended for the reception and display of articles of merchandise, such as pencils, pen-holders, Src., have had but a limited capacity for the display of their contents, and the amount of space utilized for holding the articles so as to allow them all to be exposed to view has not been the largest attainable for the amount of material used and the size of the box.

The object of this invention is to provide a box which shall be compact in itself, hold its contents securely, allow the entire contents to be readily displayed, and at the same time permit any one ofthe contained articles to be .readily removed without disturbing the remainder.

The invention consists in a box constructed (No model.)

of construction, employed for the purpose of holding the contained articles securely and at the same time allowing ot their ready removal.

Each tray or compartment A is open at one end, while its opposite end is closed by a piece, B, extended beyond the body of the tray, so that when the trays are shut together it will close the opposite end of the other tray.

Each piece B is provided, as shown, with a sloping brace-piece extending along the side of the box toward its center. These bracepieces are attached to the outside of each tray, and do not come within the line of the outer edge, so that the straight edge of the opposite tray when the trays are closed together passes inside of the brace-piece, as shown in Fig. l. This brace-piece might be dispensed with, as it performs no service in closing the open ends of the trays, but is simply for the purpose of strengthening theextcnsion B.

' The tops of the trays are partially closed by retaining-strips G, which, as placed, form, in conjunction with the sides, the bottom, and the closed ends, pockets for holding the ends of the contained articles in place. Said strips also provide spaces for labels or any descriptive matter, and may be ornamented as desired. These strips may be placed at other points, although the position shown is the most desirable for purposes of strength, While it also allows the pencils or other articles to be removed without much longitudinal movement.

The pencils or other objects may be placed directly in the open-ended trays or compartments, although I prefer to use additional means for preventing them from sliding from the box prematurely when it is opened. For this purpose an additional tray or holder, D, may be fitted friction-tight within the com partment A. rlhe end ofthe tray D, which is closed at the open end of A, prevents the pencils or other objects from sliding out of the box. When a pencil is to be removed the tray D is slid out sufciently to bring the ends of the pencils from beneath the retaining-piece G, when either may be readily removed without disturbing the remainder.

Instead of the sliding tray with closed end, it' preferred a movable end piece applied to the compartment A itself may be used. Such a device is shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

The end piece, II, is hinged to thc bottom of the compartment A, and is held by elastic attachments G, secured to the sides of A and to the piece Il. 'Io remove a pencil the end piece, H, is swung outward and downward, and the pencil may be then slid longitudinally uutildisengagedfromtheretaining-strip. The attachment G afterward returns the end Il automatically to place.

The end piece, M, Fig. 7, consists of an L- shaped piece hinged to the bottom ofthe compartment A.

The ends of the pencils rest in the angle of the end piece, L, which prevents them from readily slipping out of place. By tipping the piece into the position shown in dotted lines the pencils or other objects may be removed.

The sliding trays and boxes may be lined with velvet and other similar material, and the box itself may bc constructed of wood, cardA board, or such other material as taste may dictate.

What I claim is- I. Apacking box or case i'orpcncls or analogous objects, constructed of two compartments hinged together, cach of said compartments ot' a depth suiiicient to contain a single layer only, and each constructed with one end closed and the other end movable, substantially as described.

2. A box composed ot' two compartments hinged together, each of said compartments consisting of an open tray permanently closed at one end, and provided at its other end with a hinged piece, substantially as described.

3. A box composed of two hinged compartments, each constructed with a permanentlyclosed end and a hinged spring end, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A box composed of two trays or compartments hinged to one another, each constructed to hold and display its contents, and each provided with a projecting end that serves to close the opposite end of the other tray.

5. In a box constructed to hold and display its contents, the combination of two compartments hinged to one another, each having a projecting end piece and a hinged or movable end piece, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A box composed of two trays or compartments hinged to one another, and each provided with a retaining strip or piece at the end which is opposite to the open end ot' the other tray.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. A. F rtEEMAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE Il. GRAHAM, T. H. PALMER. 

